Instruction

Golf is a sport that requires both physical and mental preparation in order to perform at your best. While many golfers focus on the physical aspects of the game, such as swing mechanics and course management, it is equally important to focus on the mental aspects of matchplay. Get yourself ready for that monthly medal and learn how to mentally prepare for matchplay in order to give yourself the best chance of success.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that matchplay is different from strokeplay. In stroke play, the goal is to shoot the lowest score possible over the course of a round. In matchplay, the goal is to beat your opponent. This shift in mindset can be difficult for some golfers to adjust to, but it is essential to understand that matchplay is a...

Japan long-driving champion Kaori Saito is the same age as Tiger Woods, but their golf journeys began 26 years apart. When Saito picked up a golf club for the first time, Woods had already won 14 majors. Like Ayako Okamoto, a former Japan softball star who took up golf at the age of 20 and became a giant of the game, Saito was set on succeeding in a different sport and an even more unlikely one: field hockey. Hailing from the wintry northern prefecture of Iwate, it was going to be a tough challenge to succeed in either sport.

But Saito is now a 10-time, long-driving champion in Japan and has finished as high as sixth at the World Championship (Las Vegas in 2016). Determination has taken her to the top of a sport – long driving – that has received plenty of attention thanks to...

On a recent golf outing following some heavy rainy season weather with some friends, a lot of bunkers were filled with rainwater. One bunker, in particular, was half-filled with a puddle but the other half was mucky. My playing partner landed in the mucky part, and after failing to get out after two attempts tried to argue the point of 'Casual water should apply' and this 'Should have been staked'. After we refused his requests, he actually opted for an unplayable and moved the ball out from the bunker on the same line of entering, about 5 feet from the edge of the bunker, and took a 1 shot penalty. He wasn't a happy camper and was grumbling all the way home in fact. So what do the rules state?

Rules on water in a bunker: When the bunker is filled with...

When watching the PGA tour you will often see the stat for GIR or 'Greens in regulation' appear on the screen. You might have thought that SGP or 'Strokes gained putting' is the most important area for saving strokes in a round of golf, but it is actually the approach that accounts for 40% of the scoring average.

So, how do you improve your approach shots? In this guide, we have four strategies that will have you doing exactly that.

First off, let me explain what an approach is. An approach shot is generally any shot at the green on a par-4 or par-5, basically not including your drives on these holes. Par-3s are not considered an approach shot, but strategies two to four below can be used for par-3s as well.

Golfers sometimes struggle to be consistent from one club to another (especially irons to woods) because their tempo varies from club to club. If your tempo varies from club to club, it makes it very difficult to have the proper timing to hit consistent golf shots. To work on your tempo, try the drill below.

Get in your athletic set up position. Without a ball, do continuous swings for 15 seconds. To help with your tempo, try counting (1.................2). Do this drill with woods, long irons and short irons. Hopefully, your tempo will remain the same for each club.

In order to speed up play, most Japanese courses have OB tees on holes where players tend to hit OB's, or into ponds.etc.. The OB tees (usually marked with yellow tee markers or with a sign saying it has a forward tee) are located where a good tee shot would have landed, and therefore you play your 4th shot from there.

OB tees can also be on par-3 holes in Japan, and would normally be located past the hazards and close to the green where you`ll be playing your third shot.