Golf Course Equipment That Lasts: Using Repower Kits on Small Engines

Golf course managers have the difficult responsibility of keeping their fleet of golf carts, course mowers, trucksters and sand haulers running smoothly year to year.  As these items experience wear and tear it is important that they be maintained so that they last as long as possible. Funding is not always available to replace bad equipment at a moments notice. Extending the life of your equipment is possible through proper oiling, electrical testing and cleaning.  When major problems start to occur in areas like engine performance, it is not necessary to feel that the cart or mower is done for.  Repowering the engine using a rebuild kit is an economical solution for extending the usability of equipment for several more years to come. 

You can reduce the long-term costs of golf cart repairs and replacement by opting to “repower” your golf carts with small engine rebuild kits by manufacturers like Briggs Stratton, Cushman, Kohler, and Honda.  The manufacturers of these small engines have designed them to withstand both heavy workloads and light depending on the amount of use. These small engines come in a wide assortment of sizes, available horsepower, and different transmission set-ups, to meet all of your power needs. These engines also use a variety of sources such as gasoline, diesel, and electricity from batteries for their power. This makes them quite adaptable to the course-specific needs of every golf course.

The largest manufacturer of air-cooled gas-powered engines is Briggs Stratton. A Briggs Stratton small engine is durable even under the harshest of conditions and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance to stay in peak running condition.

Many golf courses utilize equipment by Cushman, who creates small engines for the Cushman Truckster and Cushman Haulster. The Cushman Truckster small engine can provide a golf cart with all the power it needs to traverse rugged terrains with the weight of passengers and equipment on board with ease. The Cushman Haulster is also built to handle heavy loads.

The Kohler line of small engines for repowering golf carts are compact but durable and provide optimum power. These engines are built for longevity.

Honda small engines power motorcycles, boats, and go-carts in addition to lawnmowers and golf course equipment. These engines are sturdy and can handle whatever task is put to them.

These manufacturers are well-respected small engine builders that have reputations for producing quality products.  By using a repower rebuild kit that uses one of these engines, golf course managers will get quality power, a sturdy machine that will stand up to the rigorous demands placed on them with less maintenance required, and a comparatively inexpensive solution to replacing equipment. You will find these engines are a cost-effective choice for the other equipment used for the maintenance of golf courses such as seeders and mowers.

Golf course managers have the difficult job of keeping the fleet of carts and mowers running smoothly for a long period of time. By repowering their existing fleet when needed, they can save money on buying all new carts and still get the same tough, sturdy, dependable running engines they expect from top brand small engine manufacturers.

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Golf Course Equipment Basics: Winter Storage

Small engine vehicles, like golf carts, lawn mowers and trucksters, need the same care and maintenance as a car or truck.  Owners tend to forget that putting a golf cart or mower away for the winter requires the same care as if you were planning to store a vehicle for an extended amount of time.  Too often carts are stored away in some corner of the garage without much thought given to how well they will start up when the weather improves. Golf cart owners  figure that hiding them away in a shed or garage, clear from the winter elements is sufficient.  Not quite.  Even if your golf cart or mower is new, they still require some maintainance.  In fact, getting them to start up trouble-free from season to season requires you follow a few points of due-diligence. 

First, gather up the equipment you will need to properly put your golf cart in storage for the winter. This equipment includes a wrench, a few bottles of distilled water, some cleaning rags, gloves for you, goggles for your eyes, a hydrometer (it measures the gravity of the electrolyte solution) and a voltmeter (to measure voltage).  You may want to throw in some baking soda and vaseline as well.

The following are measures you can take to ensure your golf cart or course mower starts up again as spring comes around.

1.  Read the manufacturer’s maintenance guide
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  Don’t try to tinker with the small engine if you’ve never handled one before.  If you notice anything unusual, take your golf cart or mower to the nearest dealer for an inspection.  Don’t wait until spring to have your small engine checked.

2.  Remove the battery
Before storing your golf mower or cart for the winter, remove the battery and disconnect it from the battery cable.  Store your battery in a safe place, away from heated elements, gas or furnace.  Wipe it clean and brush off the battery terminal with a metal brush.  Check for any cracks or borken elements.  If the manufacturer recommends special cleaning solutions for your battery, give it a good cleaning before putting it away.  If there are no spcial instructions, distilled water should do the trick.  Avoid using corrosive cleaning chemicals.  Most golf cart or mower problems are due to poorly maintained batteries. 

3.  Store in a safe, covered location
Store your golf cart or mower away from heaters, furnaces and gas containers.  Also ensure that it is not place near any open windows where water damage may occur.

4.  Put it away clean
Clean your cart or mower before storing it.  Wash off any leaves, grass, residual soil, dried or wet mud, and moisture pockets from both the main exterior and underneath.  Wipe off grass and dirt from around the blade using a long-handled brush -  Do not use your bare hands! When you clean your mower, unplug the spark plug lead wire, wind it up gently and tape it together. 

5.  Remove remaining fuel
You should finish off any fuel that is remaining in your tank (if it uses fuel) or add a fuel preserver before storage.  Read the instructions for the fuel preserver carefully before using. After adding it plug your mower or cart and let the engine run for a few minutes.  This should give the fuel preserver enough time to go through the carburetor.  One good thing about fuel preservers (also called stabilizers) is that they keep the fuel fresh in the engine for as long as half a year.  You can now turn off the engine. 

Follow these simple steps for storage and your golf cart or mower will start up in a snap.
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Golf Core Exercises For More Power

Golf core exercises.  You hear that phrase quite often on the television by the commentators referring to the area a lot of the touring pros focus on to improve their power output and prevent low back injuries.

Vijay Singh for example uses weighted medicine balls to work his golf core muscles throughout the whole week of the tournament.  In fact his caddie is his rainier.  How convenient!  The best of both worlds!

But hearing the phrase golf core exercises and knowing what your core is are two different things entirely.  As a fitness professional it’s easy for me to throw out that phrase often to impress would-be clients or customers to my golf fitness training products.

But that’s not the case.  Understanding what your core is and how it plays a critical role in producing maximum power; injury prevention and even stability is very important.  Once you know…you’ll soon realize this may be your missing link to a great game.

This area (core) starts roughly at your belly button and goes up to the bottom of your sternum.  It is the engine of your body and awareness of your core affects golf the most.  Think of it as the link in the chain that needs to be the strongest, not the weakest.

Two simple golf core exercises that will quickly strengthen your core is ab crunches and back extensions.   These would be your initial exercises to give you the strength to move onto rotational exercises that put a little more stress on your spine if the muscles aren’t conditioned enough.

Once you’ve accomplished the above exercises, you can move on to a crunch with a twist and a back extension with a twist.  This will hit your rotational strength right away...which will quickly equate to greater power output and distance.

You can then progress up to standing on your feet doing several different variations of rotational movements with a single dumbbell, standing upright and also in your golf posture.

Now that you have a basic understanding of golf core exercises…you hopefully will see how important it is in your overall golf improvement plan.

So next time you hear the phrase on the television…you’ll know what golf core exercises are.
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Golf Consistency and Scoring

I am not the best golfer on earth, my handicap varies from 16 to 18 most of the time, but I am not unhappy. I did not take the game up till my thirties, have never had a lesson, nor do I use the best clubs. For me golf is about camaraderie, being out amongst nature, and competing with myself. Luckily I have a great bunch of friends who share these ideals and we have a great time taking a dollar or two off each other.

Therefore my improvement comes from reading books and magazines, and watching golf shows. I read everything I can, and spend ages reading through the 500 odd pages I found at http://www.happygolfhacker.com   I would like to share with you two tips that without doubt, reduced my handicap.

The First.

As a consistent swing is the aim for most golfers, and it is important to repeat the swing over and over again, but is that possible when the clubs are all a different size. Therefore I maintain the same ball position for every club. I have come to the conclusion that the ball position is the most critical part of the golf swing. To ensure that the stance is comfortable and correct, I move my right foot closer to the left as the club becomes more lofted. Then I can play with the same swing every time, on the same plane. Every now and then (but rarely) I may change the ball position, for example, to cut the ball around a corner, but of course that’s when I play some of my straightest shots!!

The Second

I believe scoring is best achieved around the green, especially chipping and putting. When putting, I always line up the put, but I do not concentrate on the ball, rather the very last dimple on the back of the ball. I focus on that point alone, therefore ensuring that I will strike the ball from straight behind it, which in turn will get the ball rolling correctly. When you start to use this methodology, you may initially have trouble with pace, but after practising for a while, the technique is very sound.
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Golf Conditioning Myths

Golf conditioning is here and now! Golf has always been viewed as a game of leisure. But today's golfer is leaner, stronger, and fitter. Until the last few years, golfers didn't know how to go about incorporating exercise or, specifically, a golf conditioning program.

They have had a vision of going into the local gym and being intimidated by the "muscle heads." It can also be overwhelming to decide what plan of action to take and if it will be worth the time and effort. I have listed three myths about strength training for golf and the truths about them as well.

"I will bulk up too much and that will hinder my golf swing."

Golf conditioning specific for golf will not result in muscle gain that will alter your swing mechanics. To increase muscle size, involves lifting increasingly heavier weights with lower repetitions, increasing your calorie intake dramatically, and spending a couple of hours per day lifting weights.

A golf conditioning program incorporates moderate weight, with medium (12-15) repetitions, and in a time frame of 30-45 minutes. This type of program is designed to improve your golf specific strength and endurance, not build muscle.

"I will lose flexibility if I lift weights."

In fact, the opposite is true! Weak muscles are also tight muscles. When you do resistance training, you are increasing blood flow, working through a functional range of motion specific to golf, and strengthening the tendons and ligaments in every joint of your body. In conjunction with a stretching program, strength training will improve flexibility, not hinder it.

"Weight training will cause me to lose feel."

By strengthening your muscles specific to golf, you will have better control of your body. A sport specific program trains your body specifically for your golf game. When you improve functional strength, you have more control and balance, which will improve your feel. Strength training involves body awareness, muscular control, and coordination. These are all key elements for enhanced golf.

So in summary, golf conditioning can be done when you are in your early teens (with supervision), or into your late 80's. I have personally worked with people in there 70's and 80's who increased their strength 100%. This was partly due to the initial level of fitness being so low.

My point is, that it is never too late to start. Search out a fitness professional or golf conditioning specialist to design a golf specific program and you will play better than you ever imagined! Start now on your golf conditioning program!
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Golf Clubs and Golf Wedges

It was during 1980 that the golf clubs started gaining popularity.  As more and more people were attracted towards golf clubs, this aspect led to improvements of golf club construction and design.  The basic improvements were made in the following aspects.
•    Making the ball to go straighter and making the golf club to compensate for swing error.  This is known as forgiveness in golf terminology.
•    Enable the golf ball to move further and property of hard hitting of the golf club.  This is termed as distance.

The basic principle of the golf is “hit farther and straighter’.  Perimeter weighing, designing the golf club with low center of gravity and large sweet spot are the basic criteria of a golf club. Golf clubs which posses the above qualities is termed as game improvement golf club.  However, there are only few golf clubs that meets the criteria.  After having understood the basic requirements of game improvement golf clubs, let us elaborate about these basic criteria.
•    Perimeter Weighting: In simple words perimeter weighting indicates that the weight of the golf club is not positioned at the center and the head is positioned around the perimeter of golf club.  Small spot is the basic requirement for heating hard the ball at perfect dead center.  This small sweet spot allows you to put more physical force on the golf ball impact point.  This facilitates you in hitting a longer shot.  Perimeter weighting is considered essential for optimum forgiveness attribute of the golf club.   
•    Low Center of Gravity:  Popularity of low center gravity golf clubs is on increase in the golfers.  Designing golf clubs with concept of low center of gravity enables hitting the golf ball high into the air as the weight is shifted to the club bottom.  Golfer who do not have problem in hitting the golf ball high in the air may not give more importance to the property of low center gravity.  But for those who have problem in the hitting golf ball high in the air, lower center of gravity plays major role in improving their game.  Tungsten golf clubs pay more attention towards low center of gravity as tungsten is considered heavier that steel and tungsten allows golf club to have more weight.
•    Large Sweet Spot:  Usually, the large sweet spot is created with the design of perimeter weighting.  This is the important place to make contact with the golf ball.  Larger sweet spot is considered to be swing errors increasing.  Shifting of perimeter weighting is considered to be the best way to hit the ball high in the air and correcting toe-miss-hits.

Golf Wedges
Golf wedges usually comes in different degree lofts.  Most preferred degree loft wedges are 46, 52, 56, 60 and 64 degree lofts.  Following are the few types of golf wedges.
•    Gun metal golf wedges:  These golf wedges are with 65 degree loft.  Gun metal wedges bears sophisticated and sleek look.  It gives slippery feel though this will not have any effect on your game.
•    Designer Wedges:  These golf wedges are color coded and colors are suggestive of degree lofts.  For example Green (64), Red (60), Blue(56), Yellow (52) and Bronze (46).  These golf wedges have proprietary Plasma finish.

Usually, specifications of all golf wedges are identical.  You have to choose the right golf wedge that will facilitate you to hit the ball hard and straight.
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Golf Clubs - Tips for Buying a New Set

You've been thinking about purchasing a set of clubs for a while and then magically, an offer appears in your email box offering an amazing price for a set of high quality clubs. You're ready to purchase them based on price alone because it's a top quality brand name. I recommend you think again.

It's a common myth that if a club costs more, it will improve your game. But just like having a Porche doesn't make you a better driver, a better club doesn't make you a better golfer. Think about it: are drivers really worth $650 to $1100? Are a set of irons worth $1,500 to $3,000? If you ask the manufacturers who spend millions of dollars trying to promote their clubs, they'll say yes. The fact is that paying higher prices does not lower one's handicap, but buying a properly chosen club will do that, even if it ends up being a less expensive one.

Once you have achieved a decent level of play (which I understand means different things to differnet golfers), you can then consider purchasing custom clubs with proper fitting. And even then, I recommend you go for value rather than show.

Below are some tips to consider to help choose the best set of clubs for you and your game:

1. The shaft is the axle of the club. The better the shaft, the better the club. The shaft flex has a major effect on the feel of a golf club and a medium effect on distance. If you do not know your speed swing, some local golf shops can measure it for you.

3. Shallow face metalwoods (such as Adams Tight Lies) are some of the bigggest game improvement clubs available. These clubs are easy to hit and extremely accurate due to their low center of gravity. Great for golfers of any level.

4. Beginners and novice players choosing a set make-up should consider eliminating the 2 and 3 irons from their set, replacing those hard to hit irons with a 5,7 or 9 wood, preferably shallow face models. Again, like the tip above illustrates, the shallow face metalwoods are an easy way to demonstrably improve your game.

5. Unless you shope at Big & Tall or Small & Short, all golfers should use standard length clubs. Standard length clubs allow players to hit the ball on center a higher percentage of the time, thus increasing distance and accuracy. In recent years, light weight titanium driver heads and Ultra-light graphite shafts have extended driver playing lengths from a standard 43-431/2" to 44-46". This is good news and bad news. The good news is, when you increase length, you increase distance. The longer the club, the more club head speed generated and thus more distance. The bad news though, is that the longer the club the more difficult it is to control, resulting in less accuracy. It is not worth sacrificing accuracy for the minimal amount of distance gained past 44". Keep driver playing lengths to 44" or less.

Hopefully these tips will help you to purchase the best golf clubs for your game, your experience and your size. Remember that the price and the clubs don't make the golfer, but practice does!
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Golf Clubs: How To Bag The Best Price

Getting great prices on golf clubs, as in most hard goods, is a 2 step process these days. First find which model you want in person, then get the best deal on the internet.

So you'll want to start with a visit to pro shops and sporting goods stores first. Try out as many brands and styles as you can. Continue refining your search until you've found the clubs you want. Make a mental note of the price, but know that you are not going to pay nearly that much. 

Your Fingers Do The Walking

Now you're ready to shop the internet, where you can find some the lowest prices on the best clubs.The billions of web pages of the internet makes for a fiercely competitive environment among online retailers. To compete with each other, and to muscle out their brick-and-mortar competition, online retailers have to sell their wares at rock bottom prices.

Plus they not only want to give you a good price, the lower operating overhead allows them to do so. For you, that can mean great deals on your golf clubs, as well as golf bags, balls, clothing, and anything else you need for your game.

Cyberspace Pirates

Be aware, though, that the internet is a refuge for crooks and thieves hoping to take your money. The internet abounds with scam artists who set up fake auction ads or entire web sites with the sole purpose of stealing your hard-earned cash. Once you send it to them, you can kiss your money good-bye. If you see unbelievable prices on golf clubs, the old adage "too good to be true" probably holds.

How To Make A Safe Purchase

Still, there are many legitimate sellers on the web and, by following safe internet buying practices, you can get a great deal without being robbed.

Once you've found the clubs you want at a fabulous price, proceed with caution to make your purchase. Never provide any personal information to someone over e-mail. Provide it only on a web site if the site is secure. You can tell a site is secure by checking the web address for https instead of http. The extra "s" stands for secure. Some sites have a little key symbol in the browser to let you know it's safe.

Next, check out any retailer on the web before you purchase from them. See if they have a phone number and a real address. You can even go so far as to research on a comparison site like MySimon.com, or on the Better Business Bureau's site.

This small amount of effort pays off in the long run, because you'll get the golf clubs you want at the best possible prices.
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Golf Clubs - An Introduction

If you're thinking about purchasing a new pair of clubs, then you should begin my doing your research. This article is for people new to the game or looking to get a bit more of an understanding about just what they're buying. So let's start with the basics: there are four major categories of clubs: woods, hybrids, irons, and putters. Wedges, which resemble irons with a more angled club head, may also be counted among these. A golfer is allowed to carry up to fourteen clubs during a round.

It is possible to play a range of different shots using only one club by modifying only the speed and direction of swing (which anyone who has ever seen the Adam Sandler movie Happy Gilmore knows), but this is not a particularly successful technique. It is much easier to keep the swing as constant as possible and achieve different lengths and characteristics of ball flight using a different club for each shot. To help golfers make the appropriate choice of a club for any particular situation, all irons (and many woods and wedges) come in sets of similar clubs graded by loft, shaft length and weight. Clubs are numbered for identification with the smallest numbers indicating the lower lofts (for example, a 5 iron has less loft than a 6 iron).

Loft refers to the angle between a vertical plane and the clubface when the club is at rest. Various clubs are designed with the face having differing loft. It is loft that makes a golf ball leave the ground on an upwards trajectory, not an upward direction of swing. With the exception of the tee shot, the club actually hits the ball in a horizontal, or slightly downward, motion.

The impact of the clubface compresses the ball. The grooves embedded on the clubface impart a counter-clockwise (from a parallel view of the swing) spin, also known as backspin, on the ball. When combined with the rebounding effect of the ball, it gives it lift. Typically, the greater the loft, the higher and shorter the resulting ball trajectory. That's a free golf tip there!

Anyway, a typical set of clubs generally used to consist of 3 woods, 2 wedges, a putter and 8 irons in addition to a pitching wedge. This has changed greatly in the last 25 years along with golf club technology. Today, most players have opted to take 2, or even as many as 5, of the difficult-to-hit longer irons out of the bag in favor of higher lofted woods, known as fairway woods, and extra "utility" wedges. This certainly reflected a redesign of clubs in which manufacturers reduced the lofts of the irons to make them appear to hit longer. So for example, today's 3 iron has a loft that is equivalent to a 2 iron of years ago. Imagine that!

Now that you've had an overview of the different clubs and how they work, have a look through some of my other tutorials to learn more about each set of golf clubs in more detail.
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Golf Clubs – Getting the Perfect Fit

When it comes to golfing, not any old golf club will do for you.  You know this if you have ever been on the golf course having make up for a club that is too long or not long enough. Besides adversely affecting you game, using golf clubs that do not fit your body can cause aches and pains after using them for a while.  And if you are concentrating on making up for the poor fit of your clubs, then you probably aren’t focused on playing your best gold game.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to spend a lot of cash on custom-fit golf clubs, though.  While custom golf clubs are one way to go, you can probably find what you are looking for at a good golf store. But there are some things think about.

Though the length of the club is important, it’s not all you need to consider. Professionals say that the size of the grip of your club should be comfortable in your hands. For this reason, clubs for younger players and women usually have a smaller grip.

If you decide that a set of custom-fit golf clubs is the way to go, there are some things to know.  The aim is not just to make sure that the golf club reaches from your outstretched hand down to the ground, but also to make the most of your body and build as well.  Getting a set of golf clubs custom fit is a process that takes some time.

A proper fitting session should occur both indoors and out. The best custom-fit golf clubs should be tailored so that the way swing is considered. This can become a costly endeavor.

Although many golf club manufacturers will charge a high fee for the fitting session, many offer this service on a complementary, if you buy a set of golf clubs from them. While custom clubs are more expensive than a general set purchased from a shop or elsewhere, the cost will be worth it when you see the immediate improvement in your golf game.

Think about the shots that you have been making since you started playing golf. If you’re taller or shorter than the average golfer, custom clubs can make all the difference.

You might be wondering how long it takes to get a set of custom golf clubs in your bag. Many manufacturers of custom golf clubs can offer delivery within a few days, or often no more than a few weeks.

There are few negative aspects of getting custom-fit golf clubs.  If you want to buy them for someone as a gift, or resell them someday, custom clubs are probably not the way to go.  More than likely, the golfer who is going to receive the custom clubs will be surprised enough to get the fitting session, and most who go to this expense and trouble don’t usually sell them.

Investing in custom-fit golf clubs is entirely up to you. If you want to perfect your swing and are planning to buy a new set of clubs, custom clubs might be the best investment you can make!
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Golf Club Putters: Six Factors to Consider When Selecting a Putter

These six factors must be taken into consideration so that you make an informed choice of putter type and to make sure that it feels as it should be.

1. The lie angle. It is an angle between the shaft and the ground. This factor determines if the putter head is sitting perfectly flat on the ground when you are putting. Get one that lets the head of the club rest squarely on the ground when you take your stance.

2. The length of the putter. The standard length for a putter is 35 inches. The right length for you depends on how you stand when you address the ball. A longer putter is better if you like to stand upright. A shorter putter is better if you prefer to bend over and be closer to the ground. 

3. The total weight of the putter. Get one that does not feel too heavy. In general, use a lighter putter if you play on fast greens. A heavier putter may give you better results if you play on slow greens.

4. The size and shape of the head. A perimeter-weighted putter is the best. This type of putter has a recess in the middle of the head, with most of the weight distributed on the heel and toe. This will provide you with more solid putts on off-center hits. 

5. The head material. This factor is often overlooked when choosing a good putter. Typically the cheaper putters will have heads made of PCS plastic, Aluminum or Zinc. Because the head material is light, you will be required to hit the ball harder to get it to go the same distance as you would if your club-head was made from a more expensive material. Generally, these putters cannot be adjusted for lie, loft angle or other variables.

On the other hand, the more expensive putters often use stainless steel, brass, titanium, wood or a mixture of these. You can find special displays of these putters with different lie angles and lengths already built in. These putters will feel more solid when you strike the ball, look much better at address and perform more consistently over time.

6. The grip type and size. Putters come with standard-size grips installed. This is not ideal for everyone. The larger your hands, the larger the width of the grip should be and, conversely, you should have a smaller diameter grip if your hands are small.
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Golf Club 101

Should one decide to play golf, the essential thing that a person needs is a set of golf clubs. Most people who are not sure whether to invest more in the game prefer to borrow a set provided by the club or buy a used one. A person can acquire a second hand set from a golf specialty store or buy it from a professional golfer who may want to sell the used set to buy a new one.

When that person feels that one is ready to get serious with the sport, the individual may now decide to buy a brand new one. Here are some tips one should know when learning how to play golf and choosing a set of clubs:

1. There are many brands of golf clubs available. Before buying one, it is best to feel the grip of each so one can choose the right set that the person will be comfortable with while playing in the green.

2. Shafts come in different lengths which are determined by the height of the person. If one is unsure of which is the correct one for the individual, it is best to ask the assistance of the salesperson.

3. A little knowledge of the various clubs will help a person in choosing one even if these are usually sold in sets. A typical set of irons that a person can buy are numbered from 3 to 9 and includes a pitching wedge.

4. Another thing a person needs to play golf is a putter. Just like choosing the right set, the person should feel the grip and how comfortable it is from the brands available in the specialty store before buying it.

5. Errant shots are some things that can’t be helped, especially in the sport of golf. This is the reason why the person should be familiar with the various club designs since some clubs have made restrictions on this.

Bladed clubs are the most recommended for golfers since it gives better precision in every shot that takes skilled hands to accomplish.

6. To maintain the golf clubs, it is best to use a wire brush or a small towel to keep these in good condition.

7. A person needs golf balls to putt into the hole. If one is just getting into the game, it is advisable to buy a cheap set of balls first rather than an expensive one since some shots might fall into the water or in the forest that will just get lost which is just like throwing money into the air.
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Golf Carts Provide Optimal Golfing Enjoyment

Looking for a gas powered, electric or a pull cart? Golf carts are essential in helping you get around the course. In order to make the most of your time management skills you want a vehicle like custom golf carts or a dureable pull cart to help you carry your equipment. Ez-go golf carts along with yamaha are well known in the golfing world and often come in electric or gas powered models. Depending on what you are seeking, some players enjoy the value of used golf carts as often they are priced a little more affordable. Golf carts are an absolute necessity for those more challenged terrain courses.

There are many advantages when using golf carts. These include the ability to carry your clubs, snacks, beverages and stay drier in poor weather conditions with all weather enclosure features. Custom golf carts are very stylish. You can create the ideal image or machine that suits your needs. Lots of consumers taylor make their own vehicles. Quite often the popular choice are used golf carts. The availability is absolutely amazing. The features that these machines come out with is truly endless. You can easily customize your golf cart to match your personality.

Golf carts are the ideal utility for the avid golfer. Take advantage of custom golf carts as they allow you to design your ideal vehicle. Ez-go, Yamaha, Club car are all top name brands. You can either review new sources or used golf carts. The convenience factor is worth looking at. Just imagine the benefits that come with a great utility cart buggy. We understand that many consumers have different needs, and an endless list of golf cart accessories is usually not too much farther than a click away. Improve your game enjoyment with the added convenience of your very own golf cart.
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Golf Carts Not Just For The Golf Course Anymore

In the market for a used golf cart? Did you know that they’re not just for driving around the course anymore? You can use them to haul yard gear and transport gardening supplies and tools. They can also be utilized simply as a way to get from point A to point B if you’ve got a large piece of property or just need a little assistance getting around. Also, a used golf cart can be a big help if you’re a family who likes to travel. They’re great to have on camping trips for tooling around the grounds, or getting to the store, showers and swimming hole. And of course, they still make your golfing experience more enjoyable when cruising around the course instead of walking, especially on those warm days.

Used golf carts are available in electric or gas power and range in price from around $1,500 to higher end versions priced at around $4,000 depending on the extras you choose. There’s also lots of online companies that also sell reconditioned carts for an even more economical approach.

Another money-saving tactic is that if you’re mechanically inclined and have an old golf cart that may be out of commission due to worn out or broken parts, you can purchase a wide variety of replacement parts, either aftermarket, used, refurbished or new, from an online dealer.

One new and fun aspect of owning a used golf cart these days is that you can also get them custom painted! There are companies that will airbrush your name, boat name, or even a cartoon character or favorite scene and most places just need a picture or sketch of your idea to create original artwork for your cart which will make it uniquely yours!

What about cart stretching? Instead of purchasing a larger cart, this concept involves cutting an existing 2-seater golf cart in half and then combining it with another to ‘stretch’ your seating and space availability. It can also increase the safety and comfort of your passengers which is always a good idea.

Additionally, if you’ve got a used golf cart, or are planning on purchasing one and it may not come exactly the way you wanted, there’s lots of accessories and updates you can add to it. Some of these include heaters with 12 to 48 voltage capabilities that plug right into the cart’s power outlet. You can order custom-made seats in your choice of upholstery and color, a new canopy or even different floor mats.

Look around online to see all of the many options that are available to you. For all its uses, a used golf cart is a functional and fun way to get things done.
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Golf Carts, Not Just For the Golf Course Anymore!

Golf carts have a wide range of uses.  Sure, the most obvious is for the golf course.  But where else might you use a golf cart.  Surprisingly almost anywhere short distances of travel are needed.  Below, I'll talk about such instances where the use of a golf cart would be ideal.

On the golf course, golf carts are the primary means of transportation aside from walking.  Golf carts are convenient and easy to use by everyone.  The use of the golf cart makes traveling across the golf course quick and painless.  Typically, most golf courses use electric powered golf carts as opposed to gas powered golf carts.  Several factors influence this decision, but more than likely they choose electric due to its quiet use.

There are many large corporations that look to golf carts in order to help move people across large sites where businesses are located.  For example, so much time can be saved by using a golf cart to travel across the worksite as opposed to walking by foot.  If the need to go back and forth the workplace frequently, the amount of time saved by using the golf cart could be worth alot of money to the company compared to someone always walking.

Many security companies use golf carts to patrol the grounds of a company that they are securing.  The golf cart makes it easy to cover alot of ground in a little time.  The quietness of the electric golf cart also is a bonus in that it may be quiet enought to catch suspecting crooks off guard.

Golf carts have also been known to have a use on the home front, especially if you own alot of land.  Sure, if you own a lot of land, you may have a tractor, or other large piece of machinery.  Would anyone of them be as efficient as an electric golf cart?  Chances are they are not, especially with the current gas prices.

As noted above, there are many uses for golf carts aside from the golf course.  Whether you are at the golf course, workplace, or even the homefront, the golf cart could be of use to you.
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Golf Carts: Not Just For Golfers Anymore

According to new research, more than 60% of cars in the USA North America travel less than 15 miles per day and nearly half of drivers travel less than five miles away from home. With gas prices climbing higher every day and air being polluted with gas emissions, a golf car is the most environmentally friendly vehicle out there. With all the golf cart accessories available, golf carts can become the most stylish and eco-friendly vehicle on the road.

Golf carts are widely used in university campuses where they transport people, goods and equipment, and are even used in cases of medical emergencies. They are also used in quiet neighborhoods, at large sports events by the personnel, and of course, on golf courses by golfers. Many golf carts are purchased by disabled people who appreciate the higher speed and safety of golf carts compared to those of power wheelchairs.

Driving a golf cart is extremely economic. It costs around one cent per ten miles to operate an electric golf cart. It’s also ten times cheaper to maintain and repair a golf cart than a car. However, not many automotive giants readily leap into the golf cart market, claiming that there is currently no demand for golf carts.

Still, more and more neighborhoods, especially in resort areas or those surrounded by golf courses, switch to golf carts to access malls, movie theaters, schools and restaurants without having to ride on the highway. In university campuses golf carts can be used only on designated streets and paths. Golf carts, as neighborhood electric vehicles with a proper license can travel on roads with posted speed limit of 35 mph.

Golf carts were introduced in the 1950s and later became popular thanks to golf visionaries such as Billy Dolan. With golf carts, golf greatly evolved as a game. Smaller, more efficient and nicely designed golf carts with cute stylish accessories such as custom wheels and seats, lift kits and even programmable speed controls, golf carts are becoming safer each year.

As a vehicle, golf carts can have three or four wheels. They can be powered by electric or internal combustion motors. The most famous golf carts manufacturers include Cushman, Club Car, Daihatsu, and many more.

Among the most popular golf cart accessories today are lift kits that add clearance to the golf cart which help with accessing rocky places and bumpy roads. Many lift kits include off-road tires that can be used on the golf cart making it a rough little off-road beast.

Another popular golf cart accessory that is in huge demand in colder seasons is a rain curtain. These curtains can be snapped to the car frame to sit permanently on the car body, or they can be clipped to the car with hooks and removed in warmer seasons.

Many golf cart accessories basically do nothing except add some flare. Racing-style aluminum pedal kits, graphic and even 3D camouflage, custom steering wheels will add a stylish touch to any golf cart.

Golf carts are slowly spreading beyond student campuses, golf resorts and retirement communities. Well-designed and safe golf carts may soon be as common on city streets as scooters and bikes.
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Golf Carts: Great For Golf, But What About All The Other Uses?

When most people think golf carts they think of a buggy that takes a golfer and his golf clubs around the course. And that’s a fair assumption seeing that is what they were originally produced for. But in this day and age there are other uses apart from the obvious.

Many large companies with many warehouses or factories also find a need for golf carts. Traveling to and fro between buildings is made easier and faster when using a golf buggy. These little buggies are not only convenient but also can be very useful along with the fact that they can be affordable.

You will find many manufacturers that produce these golf carts in either a manual push and pull, electric or gas version. Some can carry passengers as well as a golf bag.And for the people who like to be a little different there are companies that make custom versions to satisfy that individual need.

You don’t have to have a custom version to be a little different as you can just add some ATV wheels to make yours stand out from the others if that is what you wish.

If you are a fanatic golfer or just an occasional golfer then golf carts are still a great way to get around that 9 or 18 hole course. Of course you can purchase your own or you have the option of hiring one as well. Many courses have them for hire for reasonable prices but there may not always be one available. So if you don’t like disappointments then perhaps you should consider buying one.

A good idea is to check out the many online manufacturers that make reliable and affordable golf carts for you to choose from before making any rash decision.

Remember, whether you are a golfer or you just need the cart for convenience and versatility in your business or home you will find a wide range to choose from on the web.
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Golf Carts: An Evolution on the Golf Course

At one point in time, the use of a golf cart was something only the somewhat wealthy could enjoy on a golf course.  Those who were not able to afford the use of a golf cart often found themselves hauling their clubs over their shoulder as they walked the golf course.  Well, times have changed.

Golf carts are now the standard at almost all golf courses throughout the country.  Very seldom do golfers carry their clubs over their shoulder anymore.  Unfortunately, some recreational golfers like to treat the course golf cart like a toy rather than a purposeful mode of transportation.  Often times, you can witness wreckless behavior exchanged between recreational golfers and the use of their golf carts.  However, this is one minor annoyance as a result of the golf cart gaining popularity.

Typically, golf carts are available for rent from the course clubhouse.  Most golfers take advantage of this service.  An alternative, if you have the money, would be to buy your own golf cart.  However, this is costly, but you will not need to pay rent for a golf cart whenever you go to the course.

Golf carts are available for purchase either new or used.  New golf carts can be purchased from anywhere from about $4000 to $11,000 dollars.  Many factors attribute to the cost, such as model, seating capacity, and any additional options that may be available.  There are two types of golf cart engines, gas engine or electric engine.

An alternative to new golf carts would be to purchase a used golf cart.  Used golf carts are alot cheaper than new ones, and typically you can find a sufficient golf cart for less than $3000.  Buying a used golf cart can be alot like buying a used car.  You will need to thoroughly inspect it inside and out.  Make sure to ask the owner any questions you may have about the golf cart.  Always make sure to take it for a test drive before committing to a purchase.
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Golf Cartoons in Your Newsletter Will Help Win Subscribers

Golf is the perfect venue for humor. Why? One reason, the USGA estimates that 85-percent of golfers don't play by the rules (some knowingly, many unwittingly).
Another reason is that golf is a hard game to master; one day a player will slice the ball and land in all of the hazards possible and then the next day the player might just play bad. Golf is to be celebrated and cursed in the same breath.

Using a humorous, appropriate cartoon in every issue of your newsletter is a great way to ensure that it will be opened and read. Using cartoons and funny cartoon pictures is a clever way to attract more business. As we all know, people love humor and enjoy a laugh. It is proven that sex sells, but just as well cartoons and humor will get you more clients and make you money. Having a cartoon character or cartoon people is a clever point.

Humor is a perfect way to attract your customers' attention. A cartoon can be a theme in your newsletter. A cartoon can be the first thing your subscriber sees when inquiring about your newsletter or it's on your web site. Originality is a key to attracting and keeping subscribers and growing a business. Cartoons can be a major factor in your marketing and promotional material.
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Golf Basics For Newbies

If you have decided to take up golf as a hobby you will be rewarded with the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and the addition of many new friends and acquaintances. Like any project you approach in life your attitude and expectations will determine your enjoyment of the game.

Take stock of your personal traits. Are you overly competitive? If you are, remember the road to a low handicap is littered with bad shots, bunkers, water hazards and triple digit scores on your round. You will invest a lot of time in practice. Welcome every hook, slice and 3 putt as a learning opportunity. Even Tiger Woods needs a coach to help him with his game.

If you like to meet new people golf provides you with opportunities for social interaction. You will get to meet new people in a setting in which you both have an avid interest. This makes for easy conversation and more opportunities to improve your game. Most clubs offer single players the opportunity to play the round together, if you would prefer to play alone just mention this to the club pro when arranging your tee time.

How much golf equipment do you actually need. Golf can be a very expensive game but there are affordable options. A high-end brand name set of clubs can set you back several thousand dollars but a good used set will cost you a few hundred dollars. Before you buy clubs it is a good idea to visit golf stores and club pro shops. You can test out different types of clubs, determine which club length is best for you, get to know the different types of grips available and learn the difference between graphite and steel shafts. You can learn about the type of golf ball that will best suit you as a beginner. Having a golf ball with the correct compression will help you make the most of your game.

If you want to increase the exercise benefits of golf you can choose to walk the 18 holes. When you are choosing a golf bag you will first need to decide if you are going to walk or ride, your choice here will be a carry or cart bag. Golf bags are available in a range of materials so choose one that is suited to the climate in which you will play most of your golf. Golf shoes are important, make sure they are comfortable and waterproof. A rain suit is also a good addition to your golf bag.

Should you take lessons from a golf professional? Your budget is the deciding factor here. Golf lessons are expensive but if it is within your budget it may be worthwhile. You will find that lessons will raise the standard of your game quickly. A more affordable way to take lessons is to purchase one of the many training programs available on video and dvd. Many seasoned golfers use these programs to raise the standard of their game and new golfers can learn at their own pace.

The above are just the basics of getting started in the game. Before you lift a club, develop the right mental attitude. Remain positive, quiet your mind and envision you shot before you hit the ball. A good mental game is half the battle on the road to a low handicap. Above all enjoy!
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Golf Basics - Build Your Foundation First

More and more people every year get bitten by the golf bug. Golf's popularity continues to rise year after year. With more and more people becoming interested in golf, more and more people are taking their first steps in wanting to learn how to play the game.

And the great thing is - it is people of all age groups, genders, race and social strata. I have really been enjoying working with every type of golfer.

The first aspect of the game of golf that I talk with about a person or group of people that are just beginning to take up the game is that learning to play golf is going to take some time and much patience. In fact, the patience part never goes away in this great game!

The second aspect (or at least real close to it) that I speak with beginning golfers about is practice; and the amount you spend with quality practice time will get you to the point in your game you want to be.

Everyone has different ambitions and expectations as to how far they want to take their game. Whether it's just a spouse who wants to learn enough of the game and the golf swing to enjoy an afternoon with their significant other, or someone who one day wishes to play competitively, the game of golf can accommodate. But, it's fundamentals and practice that will get you to your goal.

At its core of the game of golf is the golf swing. Your golf swing. How you start out learning the mechanics of the golf swing is crucial. Don't skip the basics! Learn some fundamentals before you even begin to tackle the swing.

The grip, the stance, the setup to the ball, and your posture, is the foundation from which you must learn the golf swing. If you don't spend the time early on ingraining these aspects into your physical psyche, you'll not (if ever) consistently strike the golf ball. So, make sure when you are working with your instructor, you don't just start whacking at balls. Make sure you build the proper foundation with the aforementioned elements.

When you do progress to actually swinging the club, I like to have people start with middle iron (usually a 6 or 7 iron). In my opinion, the middle iron is the best club to begin learning the golf swing. With a six iron, for example, the ball placement is in the middle of your stance. This means that as you progress to higher and lower irons you will have a benchmark to work from. Also down the road, if you swing begins to trouble you, I usually suggest that you get back to your basic neutral position club of the six iron and get your rhythm and timing back.

If you are just beginning, you must understand that the longer the shaft on the club, the longer it is going to take you to consistently and accurately hit the golf ball. It's just the physics. I see way too many beginners want to rush to justice and hit the driver and they never learn the proper swing. Always learn, tune, and groove your swing with a middle iron. Then work to keep that mindset as you climb the ladder of your clubs.

From you middle iron placement your longer shafted clubs will find your ball placement more toward your front foot's instep; while your shorter irons will have the ball work more toward the back foot's instep.

But before you do any of this, make sure you start with your foundation. Make sure that when you speak with your teaching professional you let them know that you want to spend time with and make sure you understand the concepts of the grip, stance, alignment, and posture. This will ensure that you don’t build a house of cards with your golf swing that will always be tumbling apart.

Once you get past your first couple of lessons of working on the foundations, don’t forget them. Always, always, always, be cognizant of your grip, stance, alignment, and posture even as you begin developing your golf swing. Be sure to incorporate a quick check of these before you engage your swing.

And finally, we come full circle. Be patient with yourself and spend time practicing. If you do, you’ll realize the wonderful rewards that the game of golf returns in a much sooner fashion.
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Golf Basics – One Golf Grip At A Time

I would like to focus the jest of this article on the basis of the golf swing… the grip. With spring in the air and golf on our minds let’s get this year off to a good start by not overlooking the basics.

Unquestionably the biggest mistake I see in people’s golf swing isn’t in their golf swing itself.

Nope.  Not at all.

More often than not the mistakes happen before the swing even begins. The first mistake is made in how the golfer holds the golf club. After that the next mistake usually comes in with how they stand up to the ball. Poor posture. Then after having two strikes against them, they then finish the job of making it almost impossible to hit a good golf shot by improperly lining up to their intended target.

Of course, after hitting several (possibly several hundred) balls with only a minute few being what they think is acceptable the tired frustrated golfer asks… what am I doing wrong with my swing?

For the purposes of this article I want to discuss the very first part of the proper golf swing … the golf grip. In fact, let’s be even more precise here; the left hand grip on the golf club. Oh sure… there’s much more than just the grip including the aforementioned posture and alignment. But there’s only so much typing I can do at one time so let’s stay with the grip for this communication.

The position of your club face is greatly influenced by your grip. And this is especially true as your club face enters the impact zone and contacts the ball. Certainly there is an abundance of golf swing peccadillo’s that can occur that can cause those woeful golf shots. You know the ones I’m talking about: the banana ball, the smothered hook, skied, skulled, and chili dipped. Ok, I’ll stop… If you’ll stop trying to correct your golf swing by in incessantly hitting ball after ball trying to make every physical adjustment known to man (and some that aren’t) within your golf swing itself and begin by using a fundamentally sound grip.

So you’re going to continue on with me… great! Let’s talk about the left hand (right handed golfers) first and foremost.

The left had should come in contact with the grip of the club in such a manner that the grip cuts a diagonal across the palm of the left hand from the crook in the index finger down and across to the bottom right pad of the left hand.

When you close your left hand, your club should be held in the first to fingers and your palm.

The key that you look for out of your left had grip is quite simple. As you address your ball and look down, you should only see two knuckles of your left hand. As an instructor standing directly across from you, I too should only see the same. If I don’t see EXACTLY two knuckles of your left hand then we take a step back and re-grip until we get it right. And don’t try to cheat and re-grip club just as you begin to take the golf club away and into your back swing. FOUL I say. And I will stop you.

Ok. I certainly haven’t given you that much to remember here. But seriously golfers, resign yourself to go through a quick, short checklist before you begin the journey we call the golf swing. Start with your grip. Get used to it. A proper grip will feel awkward to you particularly if your grip has been way off. Stay with it. Know that it’s the right way to grip the golf club. Piece by piece let’s lay the foundation for a good swing.
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Golf Basics – Learn To Turn

One of the biggest challenges for beginning golfers and an area of constant attention for low handicap golfers as well as professionals is consistency in their swing. For someone just beginning to learn and apply the mechanics of the golf swing, one of the most important concepts to get on the right track with right from the get-go is to learn that the golf swing is a rotation of the shoulders and the hips not the forearms and hands. In short, when learning the basic golf swing, learn to turn.

One very simple drill you can perform to reinforce and to illustrate this concept is to place a golf ball (or any similar object that you can focus on) on the floor in front of you. Stand over the ball as you would normally properly address the ball. With a slight bend in the waist and knees, and with a flat back. Take your left hand and place it on your right shoulder and do the same with your right hand on your left shoulder. In other words, fold your arms across your chest.

From this position emulate your take-away from the ball. It is important to keep your posture in tact and your chin slightly up. This allows your left shoulder (assuming a right handed golf swing) to pass slightly under your chin. The key while doing this is to keep your head still and your eyes focused on the ball on the floor in front of you. Ultimately, you’ll want to make a full shoulder rotation that completes with your upper back approaching a point where it is actually pointing toward the target. Your hips (bellybutton) should achieve an angle of about half as much.

As you reach your full turn, again be mindful that your head stays still and you are still comfortably seeing the golf ball. At the height of your turn we want to feel our weight braced against the instep of our right foot. Not rolled over the outside edge of the right foot. Not rolled over the top of the right foot allowing the right hip to get outside of the line of our right leg. The weight distribution at your fullest part should be about 85% on the inside of the right foot. Do not allow yourself to ‘reverse pivot’ when you turn. By that I mean, as you turn you don’t want to dip your left shoulder and head and accomplish your turn by dipping and ending up with the majority of your weight on your left foot at full turn instead of your right. Hence reversing the intended weight distribution.

As you begin to release your turn you should do so with your hips and shoulders. Again keeping your aforementioned posture in tact. As your hip and shoulder initiate the return sequence, your weight will move in the same fashion proportionally from your right to your left side. Allow your hips and shoulders to pass through the original address position with your right should now passing slightly under your chin much as your left shoulder did on the takeaway. All the while keeping your focus on the golf ball you placed on the floor at address. Upon finish your weight will now have moved from the right to the left side. Your hips and bellybutton should finish facing your intended target with your head and eyes not leaving their focus on the ball until they are naturally pulled up and toward your target by the finish.
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Golf Balls That Match Your Skills

Any golfer knows the role of the golf balls in their plays. No matter how good a golfer is, if he is without golf balls then his skills have no value. Every golfer knows these facts. This is why golf balls had become the primary commodities among golfers.

There is no general way to determine which golf ball is best for individual players. This factor is almost entirely dependent on the golfer's own preference, what he may do with the ball and how much will his pockets allow him.

For some, a single brand of golf ball says it all. They would stick to them for as long as they would want and most would never play if not playing with their particular brand of golf balls. Some people may call this insanity but this is an individual preference.

While a number of golfers may be practicing this, it is not thoroughly advisable to adopt this same attitude towards golf balls. The most ideal way of choosing balls is to use common sense, especially for beginning golfers.

A beginning golfer must never keep in mind what other people has to say about golf ball brands, may it be positive or negative. It must be pointed out that loosing balls for beginners is natural and this would mean that he need not focus yet on the quality or the brand name. What he needs is the low cost value the golf balls offer.

The best option for beginners is to buy golf balls sold in bulk, around 50 balls or so in a single bargain. These normally are balls that have been gathered from the greens and have been "recycled". What's good with these used balls is that they are commonly branded (but that doesn't matter actually) and one need not grieve for having lost any of such balls. On the average, losing a golf ball is around a hundred percent for most beginners through sessions of hit practicing.

With upgrades in the skills come the upgrades on the ball qualities. But this still don't suggest that intermediate players should rush to nearby golfing supplies and buy the most expensive balls from there. The golfer must not compromise price for his level of skill.

The golf balls he buys next will depend on his skill level. If he has great tendencies on failing on hits, he still needs to stay put with cheap balls. But this is not to the extent of using the same used balls. This time buy new inexpensive balls.

If for instance the golfer usually miss-hit the balls, then the balata-covered balls is nor the most appropriate ball to choose. Scratch players on the other hand would most likely prefer the golf balls that would offer lesser spin and more control.

As the basic theories for golfing, and most sports in that case explain, the skill improves with the frequency of playing. With improvements on the golfer's skills, he may result to trying new golf ball brands. Through this, he may determine what golf ball brands will suit him best. But this doesn't end here nor this factor decides what type of games the golfer may produce. He still have to reconsider other golfing components such as the golf clubs, the golf courses and other golfing accessories.
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Golf Balls –- The Science Behind The Dimples

The dynamics behind the flight of the golf ball offers a fascinating insight into the physical interworkings of air pressure, turbulence, and aerodynamics.

When golf was first played in Scotland, most players played using clumsy golf apparatus, with the first golf clubs and golf balls made of wood.

In 1618 the “Featherie” was introduced. It was a golf ball made of feather. This feather golf ball was handcrafted from goose feathers tightly pressed into a horse or cowhide sphere while still wet. After drying, the leather shrank and the feathers expanded, creating a hardened golf ball.

As this type of golf ball was specially handcrafted, it was usually more expensive than golf clubs, so that only a few privileged people could afford to play golf back then.

After the Featherie golf ball came the Guttie golf ball. This type of golf ball was made from the rubber-like sap of the Gutta tree found in the tropics, and was shaped into a sphere when hot and eventually into a golf ball. As it was made of rubber, the Guttie golf ball could be cheaply produced and easily repaired by reheating and reshaping.

Comparing the two types of golf balls, the Featherie golf ball was said to travel farther than the Guttie golf ball because the Guttie golf ball’s smooth surface prevented it from covering more distance.

With this discovery, the developers of golf balls came up with the “dimpled” golf balls that are so predominant in modern golf nowadays.

The dimples on the golf balls help reduce the aerodynamic drag. Aerodynamic drag normally affects smooth golf balls and slows them down, because when they sail through the air, they leave a pocket of low-pressure air in its stir thus creating a drag.

By applying dimples to the golf ball surface, the pressure differential goes down and the drag force is reduced. These dimples create turbulence in the air surrounding the golf ball, which, in turn, forces the air to clasp the golf ball more closely. By doing so, the air trails the warp created by the golf ball towards the back instead of flowing past it. This results in a smaller wake and lesser drag.

Dimples were first added onto golf ball surfaces back during the gutta percha phase. Coburn Haskell  introduced the one-piece rubber cored golf ball encased in a gutta percha sphere. Then in 1905 William Taylor applied the dimple pattern to a Haskell golf ball, thus giving rise to the modern golf ball as we know it today.

After its beginning, dimpled golf balls were officially used in every golf tournament. In 1921, the golf ball took its current form with standard size and weight. Nowadays there is a wide range of golf balls to fit every style, game and condition, with some golf balls offering control, and other golf balls offering distance.

Though a common sight nowadays, the dimpled golf ball is not just a mere element of the sports arena; it is a showcase of physics at work.
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Golf Ball Retriever: The Tool for Every Golfer

A golf ball retriever is a tool that every golfer should have to eliminate the need to bend and stoop to locate your ball.  While a golf ball retriever is actually very simple, it is a tool that can make your golf game much more fun, much easier, cleaner, and simply more enjoyable.  When those that are new to golfing hear of such a contraption they tend to snicker and wonder why in the world they would ever need a ball retriever.  After just a few games most golfers have a new understanding and appreciation for the golf ball retriever.

A golf ball retriever is just that, it retrieves balls so that the golfer does not have to go into water, mud, or rocks to retrieve a miss-hit.  Ball retrievers often come in very handy when you play on a course that has a lot of ponds, lakes, wooded areas, as well as rock gardens.  Of course, you never intend to hit your ball into these areas, but every now and again it will happen and a golf ball retriever will make it a lot easier to get your ball without all of the climbing and stooping that is generally associated with locating ones ball.  Because of your golf ball retriever you’ll find that you have to buy golf balls less often because you won’t just write them off when they land in hard to reach areas.

There are a few different golf ball retrievers on the market.  Two of the most well known are the IGOTCHA golf ball retriever and the Golden Retriever golf ball retriever.  There are many other retrievers on the market, these two products are just known for their reliability as well as their durability.  Because there are these great products as well as others on the market it can be difficult to ascertain which is right for you.  The great thing is that all ball retrievers are relatively affordable, so you can go for one of the well-known products of something else on just about any budget.

The IGOTCHA golf ball retriever is also very popular and can be purchased for right around $30 as well.  Like other retrievers the IGOTCHA comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 6-18 feet long allowing you to grab your ball with ease from any area.  IGOTCHA can grab your golf ball from water, mud, rocks, and soggy areas of green after a rain so that your pants as well as your shoes can stay clean.  IGOTCHA has cleverly come up with four different ball retrievers known as the Executive, the Executive XL, and the Biggest.  IGOTCHA is definitely a quality product that many golfers can get a lot of use out of.

The Golden Retriever golf ball retriever will usually cost about $30 and will fit into or attach to golf bags with ease.  Even though the Golden Retriever comes in 7, 12, and 18 foot the handle is telescopic so that you don’t have to lug around a huge ball retriever from hole to whole during your game.  This ball retriever can be fully immersed in water or mud should it happen to land in one of these things.  The claw like handles will allow you to simply scoop up the ball with one hand and then drop the ball into the other.  Because the handle is telescopic you can reach a ball that is in the middle of the pond. 

A golf ball retriever is a tool that every golfer should have.  If the golfer in your life doesn’t already have one, a retriever makes a great fathers day, birthday, mother’s day, or Christmas gift.
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Golf Ball Logos

Logo golf balls are considered the true ambassador to the game of golf. They  occupy approximately twenty percent of the golf ball business today and are mainly used for corporate branding. It is through logo golf balls that you build and maintain successful business relationships with your customers, employees, suppliers, and the millions of people who enjoy the game of golf.

The printing of the logo on the golf ball is done by the respective golf ball companies using state-of-the-art equipment. If one needs a logo to be imprinted on the golf ball, all that one has to do is to get a cameral ready logo to give to the printers of the golf ball. There are different forms of printing for the logo on the golf ball. The single logo imprinting used the finest colors and details of the logo to be printed on a golf ball that is within a 7/8” circle. Double imprinting involves printing of the logo on two sides of the golf ball. One can either imprint two of the same logo or two separate logos on the golf ball, at an increased price. A minimum of eight to ten dozen golf balls are accepted as an order for logo printing. If you plan to send the logo design to the printer through email, it is better to use Adobe Illustrator or .eps formats in vector graphics, as these graphics do not incur additional charges. Sending the logo by fax is another option, but the logo turns out to be black and white after being faxed. So to facilitate the coloring of the logo design on the faxed paper, a clean-up charge will be assessed by the printers.

If one plans to use logos on the golf balls for a tournament, it is important to first confirm that the tournament sponsors approve of the logos before actually printing the logos. This is because most of the companies are specific about their logos and expect everyone to follow their guidelines. As there are hundreds of golf balls with different logos, some golf enthusiasts have started collecting logo golf balls as a hobby. To facilitate the development of logo golf ball collecting, the World Logo Ball Association was created in 2000. Logo golf ball collectors can buy, sell, and trade logo golf balls and, in general, learn more about the hobby here.
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Golf ball divers

The sixty footer

    The company I was contracting for had warned me that the lakes on this course were a little darker and deeper than most, since they had made the lakes from the sand dredging process for the construction of the surrounding retirement community. I arrive at the course a little apprehensive since I had never dove for balls in extremely deep lakes. I entered my first lake, it wasn't so bad only fifteen foot deep or so. The water was very dark like I was warned. The lake was also full of many sharp and jagged rocks, so I had to move slowly. On a scale of one to ten the course was a nine in terms of nasty inhospitable water. But that's ok since I had been in black obstacle full ponds many times before.  I finished my first dive realizing that this wasn't going to be such a challenging creepy day after all.
    The second lake I arrive at is a par three shoot across, should be just full of balls due to the size of the water in between the tees and the flag, no matter which way they missed they would hit the water. I climbed into the lake, to my surprise the visibility was great! for a golf pond anyway. I could see a long relatively steep sloping edge full of boulders large rocks and debris scattered around. I figured wow this isn't a bad lake at all good visibility etc..  I decided to first work the top edge clambering around the boulders, there were many balls, a great top edge to say the least. Within a ten minutes or so I had already filled a bag of eight hundred balls off of the top edge. So I figured if the top edge is this good the bottom edge must be incredible. As I crawled down the edge I noticed it looked very black  the closer I got to where I thought the bottom edge was. The water was already around twenty foot deep by this point. Now this was creepy as I got closer and closer to the black area I realized it was black because the edge just dropped straight off in a vertical manner. I climbed out as far as I could go without falling down looking down trying to gauge just how deep this thing was! I dropped a golf ball and watched it fall...it just disappeared after a few seconds. Now this started to not be fun, I was looking into what looked like a bottomless pit from hell. I crawled all along the edge of the drop off trying to see if maybe it was just that spot, maybe there was some way to descend this thing without just taking a leap. No such luck it was a straight drop all around! I knew that if I didn't go down this thing I would loose so much money because of the amount of balls that would be down there. So I decided to take the leap jumping off the edge, I mean how deep could this actually be its a golf pond! I pushed off hard from the edge so I wouldn't hit the wall on the way down. First of all I could see then it got blacker, then pitch black. The water got colder and colder as I fell into the abyss, I fell for at least thirty seconds, it felt like hours! I crashed into the muddy bottom, sitting there motionless for a few seconds to catch myself. Time for a quick check, just as I thought there were thousands of golf balls all around me. Next step I needed to find the wall of this thing so I knew where the edge was and didn't get lost in the middle. As deep as this hell pond was, i knew my air would go very quickly and an emergency inflate ascent would be very dangerous. I could get bent or embolise my lungs. This was not a fun place to be. Feeling all around me without moving anywhere I looked for the wall. It turns out I landed pretty close and it was a few feet off to my side. Good I decided to keep one hand touching the wall at all times so I didn't loose it, also moving slowly was a good idea. As I went along i piled golf balls into my apron, it was filling very quickly. Then all of a sudden my head hit something above it. I stopped, feeling above me, I realized I was actually under an overhang! Great now I know I have who knows how many tons of loose rock hanging over my entire body. I felt my way out to the edge of the over hang it went out three feet or so, i was three feet into this thing. If it should come loose or collapse I would never get out. That was it for me! No amount of money was worth playing around in a pond as hazardous as this one. so I sat in one spot reached all around me until my apron was full. I had been down at the bottom for around fifteen minutes now, figured at this depth my air would be getting pretty lean. Now the next problem how do I get up to the top of this thing! Not only do I have all my gear on but a huge bag of nine hundred or so balls around my neck. I decided to climb it, hike my way back up. This wall was truly vertical, this was going to be tough! I stood up next to the wall grabbing at some rocks jutting out of the wall pulling myself up onto it, I made it up about ten feet then the rock I grabbed broke loose in my hand and I fell down backwards all the way to the bottom. Now I am getting a little worried. I start again but within a few minutes I fall back down. Sitting on the bottom I ponder the best way to get up this wall, should I inflate and just hope for the best? what should I do. I don't have much time as my air is already getting lean. You know this when the air comes out of the second stage a little harder than before. After thinking for a minute or so I come up with something that should work. If I inflate my BCD so that I am just buoyant enough to rise slowly then I could use the wall as a way to keep my ascent slow enough so it wouldn't be dangerous. I inflated to where I was slowly starting to rise, I grabbed the wall slowing myself. I kept changing grips along the wall keeping myself rising slowly. After about six minutes of this, looking up I could see the start of the middle edge. Relieved I climbed up onto the middle edge. Releasing the air from my BCD once I was safely on top so I wouldn't rise any more. I climbed up the edge until I was in around fifteen feet of water. remembering my dive training, I stopped and just sat at this depth for around five minutes to decompress. This is called a safety stop, you do this to prevent getting the bends. By stopping in around fifteen foot of water you can gas off or allow the nitrogen build up in your body to dissipate. Since I had no idea how deep I was down, I figured this was the safest thing to do. As I crawled out of the lake I looked at my pressure gauge, sure enough I only had two hundred pounds of air left! which is only a few minutes of breathing time.
    When I got back to the cart barn, I found out that the lake was around sixty foot deep. Most divers that worked that course usually skipped it. That was too close of a call for me! I learnt on that day, that no amount of golf balls is worth taking that risk! I will never dive a lake like that again!

The salt water course

    I had never been in a salt water course, so when they told me all about it I was excited supposedly the water was clear, it was like an ocean dive. The course was directly connected to the ocean by large twelve by twelve feet pipes. So all the sea life would also be in there. Fun I thought collecting golf balls while watching all the neat stuff swim by. All the ponds on this course have nick names.



The Fish Bowl
     The fish bowl, it was closest to the ocean and was supposedly just teeming with sea life. I climbed in it was great crystal clear, fish swimming all around me, sea grass off to my right containing little crabs, small conchs everything you would find in the ocean. Wow I thought this will be fun as I descended the edge there were balls everywhere, top edge, middle edge. Allot of the balls had barnacles growing on them, some of them were just one giant barnacle. Little creatures inside of the barnacles. Great I thought now my apron that usually holds around nine hundred balls would hold much less meaning I would have to empty my apron into rice bags many more times than usual. Also the sharp barnacles were cutting holes in my ball apron. The edge was very long dropping me down to around twenty five foot at the bottom. There were hundreds of balls along the bottom edge. Some fresh but many with barnacles and snails and coral attached to them. My hands were getting cut and stung as I did the side to side sweep, so I decided to do the see be version of collecting where you don't feel in the mud but just grab the balls you see. This was clearly a course you had to use gloves in. I looked behind me, the water was now pitch black from the dust cloud I had created. A little ahead of me up higher on the bank a pair of horse shoe crabs were following each other, this was a neat site in a golf course pond! As I crawled along I noticed a sting ray a little bit to the left of me mostly covered in sand to camouflage itself, as I got closer it sped off leaving a huge dust cloud and me blind for a minute. It wasn't a good feeling  knowing so much hazardous marine life existed in these ponds I wanted to be able to see. within a few hundred feet I already had three bags of nine hundred balls sitting on the bank! This was a loaded lake. I came to a log submerged beneath the surface under it sat a five or six foot nurse shark which also bolted as I got closer. I continued on my adventure looking above me at giant bluish purplish jelly fish floating by in the current of the lake. The water flowed slowly in the direction of the tides. A grassy area came up ahead it was covered in giant jelly fish the size of bread saucers that had an underside that looked like the weeds. they sat upside down on the bottom. As your hands hit them they stung you and then swam off in giant contractions. This was great all the views of an ocean dive. If I had gloves this would be a very enjoyable dive. As I slowly moved along the bottom edge I had a weird feeling like something was watching me and darting off whenever I turned in its direction disappearing into my dust cloud. I stopped for a minute to look around and there he was a six foot barracuda, a few feet above me and off to my left. They are very curious fish and like to follow you around. He followed me for the rest of the dive occasionally darting through the bubbles my regulator produced.

Sherwood forest
    As I am pulling up to the lake in my golf cart, several iguanas bolt into the water some jump off trees. They swim almost as good as fish. This is the end of a long lake affectionately known as the black hole as it is so deep and black. The part I am about to dive is a slice on the opposite end ,which should catch allot of balls. Getting into the water I wonder why it is called Sherwood forest. The water was clear like the fish bowl, on my left some bushes hung into the water under which dozens of snappers sat in hiding. A few feet down the edge the water got a little murkier, this is when I realized why it was called Sherwood forest. I was in about 20 foot of water there were hundreds of trees cut off around the middle. This used to be a small valley when they made the lake. Instead of removing the trees they just cut them off mid way. This was neat I was climbing  through a forest but under the water. Until of course my dust cloud caught up to me, now I am climbing through a nightmare of an obstacle course. Crashing into tree trunks, getting snagged on branches climbing under half uprooted trees. After fifteen or so minutes of this a branch gets caught under my mask ripping it off my face as I move forward, breaking the mask strap. reaching around with my eyes tightly shut I find my mask and decide to leave Sherwood forest to Robin and his merry bunch.

Salt water crocodile
    After tying my mask strap in a knot so i could continue diving I get to a par 3 shoot across known as the Croc Shot. This lake is deep with a steep edge, a little dark but clear. This lake is one of the furthest from the ocean, so the water is more brackish than salt. Not too much wild life exists here. As i climbed down to the bottom edge, sliding mostly as it was so steep I found channels of balls hundreds lined up one on top of each other. This was great by the time I made it to the bottom edge I already had a bag full. I climbed back up through my dust cloud picking up renegade loner golf balls along the way. I was right in front of the green mask on my forehead dumping my catch into a rice bag when a golf ball hit the water right next to me sending water flying so hard it actually felt like needles piecing into my face. I looked up to see more golfers teeing off. I quickly put my mask back on and got under the water so I did not get hit. Judging by how hard the drops of water hit me, that ball would have really hurt me if it hit me. After a few minutes I surface to see the golfers standing on the green close to me. Close one a chap in standard golf attire said, I just smiled and threw him back his ball which I picked up while I was lying under the water. I finished tying my rice sack, as I looked up I spotted an alligator under the tree branches not too far from me. But this alligator looked a little strange it wasn't like your standard alligator. I couldn't pick out what it was he was just different. Around seven foot in length sitting on the bank under the trees. Oh well I thought crawling back in finishing my dive with great success. As i climbed out of the lake a maintenance man said to me I cant believe you went diving with that thing. I just smiled and said we dive with them all the time, they don't bother you. He said Crocodiles? That's when my eyes widened. Crocodiles are extremely dangerous and allot more aggressive than alligators. Turns out this course is part of a natural preserve and one of the few places in Florida that actually contains crocodiles. I made a mental note not to dive in that lake again.

Tarpon Alley
    This was another lake in the back of the course, mostly brackish water deep and dark like the Croc Shot. I did a quick scan just to make sure I wouldn't be sharing water with man eating crocodiles. After climbing in I could not believe the amount of sea life in this lake schools of snappers whipping by, crabs every where, what a fishing spot I thought. Climbing down the edge I felt something huge whoosh by. What the hell was that?? Looking up I saw at least twenty huge four to six foot long shiny fish swimming by. Wow I have to check this out, after climbing up to the middle edge I realized they were all giant Tarpon which grow to as large as six hundred pounds. So many of them swimming slowly not even remotely bothered by my presence. They let me get really close I just sat there for awhile watching these beautiful fish swim by. Thinking to myself :- stuff the golf balls where's my fishing rod?!?

Jelly fish lane
    I found a shoot over nestled in some mangrove swamp. The water was very shallow waist deep at best. Sea grass covered the bottom, there were hundreds of large saucer shaped jelly fish every single inch of this lake. It was connected to the ocean by a short eight foot pipe. So this was truly like an ocean dive. I climbed in a little freaked out by the thousands of jelly fish everywhere, I knew I was going to get stung to hell. See bees only I thought. There were golf balls every where I looked. An extremely strong current was moving by the pipe connected to the ocean. The tide was going out half an hour or so till low tide. The water was shallow so as I propelled my self along with my tank sticking out of the water mashing through hundreds of jelly fish stinging my hands and face I started to contemplate whether I liked this job any more. The balls were under the jelly fish on top of the jelly fish just surrounded by these big ugly stinging creatures. work was slow its hard to move with your tank sticking out of the water. As the tide got lower and lower I could no longer crawl along the bottom it was too shallow. I took off my gear leaving it on the bank and walked along the swamp picking up golf balls. The ball apron in my right hand being dragged behind me. The whole time I had to keep a clean eye out for golfers shooting across. I felt like I was on a firing range constantly dodging balls. I learnt that high tide is the time to work this lake!

    On this I day discovered that while a salt water course tends to be allot more hazardous to dive in, but on the same token it tends to be a very interesting to dive. Many sights to see and all in all it was a fun day.
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